Mexican diarist celebrates freedom

The three-word exclamation by the housewife named Luisa was entered in the woman’s diary on Aug. 2, 1822, as another historic piece of testimony for Mexico’s national archives.

The woman’s handwritten message to her querido diario (dear diary) was a testimonial for Mexico’s national archives as confirmation that, in fact, the country had gotten rid of “the bad government” that had ruled the land since 1510.

The woman wrote, “After ten years of this madness we are free.

We have finally achieved what we wanted.

“The liberal revolution in Spain in 1820 caused certain Creoles and Spaniards to secede from Spain.

Surprisingly, (Agustin) Iturbide, the same man who was originally against the revolt, became the leader of those who left.”

At the time Luisa wrote the August 1822 message in her diary, she still was not convinced her husband, Cruz, had been killed in combat.

She wrote that (General Agustin) Iturbide had conferred with Vicente Guerrero, who concurred on the Plan of Iguala (Feb. 24, 1820).

It announced Mexico would proceed to establish a constitutional monarchy under Ferdinand VII.

“What’s even better is better is that the Creoles and Peninsulares are pronounced as equals, just as I had wished for,” Luisa wrote. “Unfortunately, Mestizos have lesser rights.

After the viceroy Apodaca was sent away, a new one (Juan O’Donoju) accepted the Plan of Iguala by the Convention of Cordoba.”

The viceroy did not have the money or the troops to fight against Iturbide, Luisa writes, adding: “He was forced to accept Mexican Independence. Viva Mexico!”

She wrote her querido diario that “a constituent assembly and new Spanish leader (were) summoned.

“However, (the viceroy) declined to recognize the Cordoba Accord.

I’m not exactly sure if I particularly trust Iturbide, considering he was responsible for the death of our other leader, Morelos,” she wrote.

“However, Iturbide persuaded his army to pressure the Congress to make him emperor and he was named Agustin I on July 25, 1822.

Hopefully, under his rule, Mexico will flourish and we’ll live the way we’ve always wanted to.